Dispersible wipe

Abstract

A water dispersible wipe includes a web including at least 10 weight % (wt. %) of a fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber (CMF) based on the total weight of the web, the remaining fibers of the web including natural cellulosic fibers; a wet strength agent disposed within the web; and a pH-modifying composition having a wetting pH disposed within the web; wherein the water dispersible wipe includes at least two webs and disperses upon exposure to an aqueous environment having a pH greater than the wetting pH and has a cross-direction (CD) wet tensile of at least 75 g/in after 24 hours as measured according to IVDA Standard Test WSP 110.4 (05).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water dispersible wipe comprising:
 a web comprising at least 10 weight % (wt. %) of a fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber (CMF) based on the total weight of the web, the remaining fibers of the web comprising natural cellulosic fibers;   a wet strength agent disposed within the web; and   a pH-modifying composition having a wetting pH disposed within the web;   wherein the water dispersible wipe comprises at least two webs and disperses upon exposure to an aqueous environment having a pH greater than the wetting pH and has a cross-direction (CD) wet tensile of at least 75 g/in after 24 hours as measured according to INDA Standard Test WSP 110.4 (05).   
     
     
         2 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pH-modifying composition is malic acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pH-modifying composition is a wetting composition. 
     
     
         4 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting pH is in a range from about 3.5 to about 6.5. 
     
     
         5 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the wet strength agent is a glyoxalated wet strength agent. 
     
     
         6 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the natural cellulosic fibers are non-wood fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the CMF has a length-weighted average length after fibrillation in a range from about 1.5 to about 5.0 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         8 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 1 , wherein the web comprises the CMF in an amount in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         9 . A water dispersible wet wipe comprising:
 a web comprising CMF in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. % based on the total weight of the web, the remaining fibers of the web comprising natural cellulosic fibers, and the CMF having a freeness of less than 175 milliliters (mL);   a glyoxalated wet strength agent disposed within the web; and   a pH-modifying composition having a wetting pH disposed within the web;   wherein the water dispersible wet wipe disperses upon exposure to an aqueous environment having a pH greater than the wetting pH and has a CD wet tensile of at least 200 grams/3 inch (g/3 in) as measured according to TAPPI Method T 576 pm-07.   
     
     
         10 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the pH-modifying composition is a wetting composition. 
     
     
         11 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the wetting pH is in a range from about 4.5 to about 5.5. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-ply wet wipe comprising the water dispersible web of  claim 9 , wherein the CD wet tensile is in a range from about 75 to about 500 g/in after 24 hours in the pH-modifying composition, as measured according to IVDA Standard Test WSP 110.4 (05). 
     
     
         13 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the glyoxalated wet strength agent is glyoxalated polyacrylamide. 
     
     
         14 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the CMF has a length-weighted average length after fibrillation in a range from about 1.5 to about 5.0 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the web comprises the CMF in an amount in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. 
     
     
         16 . The water dispersible wet wipe of  claim 9 , wherein the glyoxalated wet strength agent is present in an amount in a range from about 0.01 to about 8 pounds per ton (lb/T). 
     
     
         17 . A water dispersible wipe comprising:
 a web comprising CMF in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. % based on the total weight of the web, the remaining fibers of the web comprising natural cellulosic fibers, and the CMF having a freeness of less than 175 milliliters (mL);   a glyoxalated wet strength agent disposed within the web; and   a pH-modifying composition having a wetting pH disposed within the web;   wherein the water dispersible wipe disperses upon exposure to an aqueous environment having a pH greater than the wetting pH and has a MD dry tensile to CD dry tensile ratio of about 1:1 to about 3:1.   
     
     
         18 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 17 , wherein the water dispersible wipe has a MD dry tensile to CD dry tensile ratio of about 1.5:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
         19 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 17 , wherein the water dispersible wipe has a MD dry tensile to CD dry tensile ratio of about 2:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
         20 . The water dispersible wipe of  claim 17 , wherein the web comprises the CMF in an amount in a range from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %.